Other Areas

Although we live in an age that has been characterized by an apparently ineluctable movement towards greater and greater specialization in all our skilled trades and professions, including the legal profession, there are still a few professionals whose intellectual curiosity and desire for variety does not allow them to fall in with this movement. Dr. Belcher draws inspiration from the classic English barrister and the eighteenth and nineteenth century American lawyer who would think nothing of defending a client accused of robbery on Monday, negotiating a property settlement on Tuesday, and representing a plaintiff in a defamation or breach of contact case on Wednesday.

In addition to cases falling neatly into one of the major practice areas described elsewhere in this website, Dr. Belcher has successfully handled the following types of cases:

Claims alleging improper tactics by collection companies, in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), a federal statute.




Claims alleging violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, a statute that offers broad protection to consumers against unscrupulous merchants for transactions in the State of Maryland.




Claims alleging violations of the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act, a statute that offers broad protection to consumers against unscrupulous merchants for transactions in the District of Columbia.




Simple estate planning and will drafting.




Caveats and will contests in which interested persons seek to challenge the legitimacy of a putative will or to defend a will against the challenge of other persons.




Small estate administration.




Predatory lending cases in both the District of Columbia and Maryland.




Commercial negotiation and litigation involving business-related contracts and regulatory compliance.




Tort defense.




United States Tax Court.